Disclaimer: I do not own PhofOp.

Creatures of the Night

Christine bit her lip, this was not how she imagined telling Erik what they were. She and Raoul had planned to go to Erik's shop right before closing, believing that the place would be empty. What they found instead was Erik playing for a girl that physically looked a few years younger than them.

Christine had to admit that she felt a flare of possessiveness at the sight of Erik's playing for another, but quickly squashed the feeling down. Music was the most important thing to Erik. If they were somehow able to get him to accept them, Christine would not be selfish to limit his abilities.

The music had been soft and slow, with a hypnotic tone that was almost like a lullaby. Erik's voice briefly washing over her, encompassing her in warmth.

However, as they got closer, Erik had stopped playing and the warmth ended, leaving her cold.

Erik confronted them and the blonde girl watched them curiously. Luckily, they had been able to convince Erik to give them a change to talk, however, Meg was to be there also.

Meg, Erik's beloved niece that was going to leave soon.

Christine should have known that Meg was the girl Erik was singing too, Erik has told them that he didn't sing often to others, only to his family. Simple process of elimination would have told her that Meg was the only option. The girl had a pleasant scent. It wasn't as overwhelming or tempting as Erik's but it was a nice mixture of cherry and the smell of new books.

Christine could tell that the blonde girl sensed what Mr. Khan and Mme. Giry had. Her stiff posture and wary eyes was proof enough. A part of Christine was pleased by that, few people trusted their instincts readily these days, but it might cause a problem while talking to Erik.

However, Erik left no room for Meg leaving unwillingly to be an option and they had to deal with it.

Christine took a deep breath through her nose before letting it out in a rush. She straightened and took a step closer to Erik.

"We know that Madam Giry and Mr. Khan see us as a threat, they think we are dangerous."

Erik squinted in their direction, his arms folded across his chest. "Not the best start at reminding me, but do continue."

Christine hesitated and Raoul picked up for her.

"They weren't exactly wrong." He joined in. Then he waved his hands in the air hurriedly. "But not to you! Never to you! To us, we would rather burn on the sun than do you harm!"

Erik cringed, Christine didn't know if it was because of the wording or the confession itself.

"Not a great explanation, but you did basically admit that you are dangerous. Are you saying that you would do harm to others?" Erik questioned.

"We haven't done that in a long time…" When Christine noticed Erik and Meg's expression she hurried to continue. "No wait! That came out wrong!"

She watched Meg step closer to Erik warily, putting herself half in front of him as if to act as a shield. Her large brown eyes watching them in fear but determination.

Christine sighed in irritation. This was getting them nowhere.

"Okay!" Meg flinched at the volume and Erik must have felt it because he carefully placed his hand on her shoulder. The motion made Christine want to sigh again but held it in. She clapped her hands together and pointed at Meg. "We are not explaining this very well."

"I'll say." Erik replied dryly.

"This is hard!" Raoul protested. "You try finding a way to tell someone that they're your mate, but oh, you're also not human which is why your mate's friends hate you!"

Christine slapped her hand to her face. This was really not the way she wanted to go about this.

She peeked at Erik and Meg from between her fingers and saw them wearing twin stumped expressions.

"Oh my god, Raoul!" Christine hissed, whipping her free hand out and slapping Raoul's arm.

By his expression, Raoul would be blushing like a tomato if he was human, but the message still got across.

"That was not how we were going to say that." Christine declared.

"How else do you say you're not human?" Meg replied shakily, her back pressed against Erik's chest since she had taken a step back at the reveal.

"We wouldn't hurt you! Not while you're important to Erik!" Raoul countered with a scowl, as if offended by the implied accusation.

"What do I have to do with that?" Erik finally spoke, his brows drawn downwards in bewilderment. Christine was relieved to see no fear, she hoped that it wouldn't change.

"To put things in simple terms, you're our mate." Christine explained. She was glad she couldn't blush because she was sure that she would be a tomato shade otherwise. "You are ours and we are yours."

"Like what? Soul mates?" Meg asked in disbelief. The fear lingered in her eyes but her curiosity was winning out at the moment.

"Yes, it sounds cliché, we know, but it's the truth." Raoul added.

"I'm in my mid-forties and blind, how can I be a mate?" Erik questioned in disbelief.

"You being blind doesn't matter. Our souls call out for each other once we get close enough, it has nothing to do with outward appearances. Age isn't a big factor either, I'm going to be in my...I think I'll turn 134 this year." Raoul admitted causing the dumbfounded expressions to come back to the humans. Raoul turned to Christine with a frown. "You're…"

"207." Christine replied easy enough. She never hid her age when asked. "I was born into it."

"Into what exactly." Meg asked nervously but a hint of amazement.

"We don't like to say what we are considering all the stories and myths behind it but since there isn't any other way, we're called vampires." Christine admitted.

There it was, they had finally said it.

Christine felt tense in the silence that engulfed the shop. She knew that Meg was in disbelief but couldn't read Erik. He could become a blank page when he wanted to, which was off putting with his glazed golden eyes that maintained their intensity.

Eventually, it was Erik that broke the silence.

"Prove it." He commanded.

Christine blinked in surprise but should've expected that. Most people consider the whole 'seeing is believing' quote a good saying to live by. But Erik couldn't see…

"How?" Raoul questioned with a frown. "You wouldn't exactly be able to see anything that we could do."

"But Meg can." Erik pointed out.

At the mention of her name, Meg straightened up and turned her head towards Erik. She wore a frown but Erik leaned down, using the hand that was on her shoulder, and whispered something into her ear.

"Do me this favor, my pearl. Be both of our eyes." He whispered, to which Meg nodded her consent and faced them again.

If Christine hadn't been a vampire, she wouldn't have been able to hear it but she was, and she did. She supposed that made things easier, because Erik would believe Meg's point of view.

"Ah, how do we do this?" Raoul asked, unsure.

Erik shrugged. "Have you never revealed yourselves before?"

"Not purposely, and we always erased their memories afterward." Christine stated. She looked at Raoul, ignoring the looks of shock. "I guess we could do our vampire forms."

Raoul rolled his eyes. "Oh, duh! That's easy."

Christine turned back to Meg, giving her a comforting smile. "These forms are used in fights and to scare, please don't worry. We will not do anything."

Meg nodded slowly, stepping back into Erik's chest again, to which the older responded by giving her shoulder a squeeze.

"Okay." Christine announced before closing her eyes.

She knew that Raoul was doing the same next to her. It wasn't a required thing to do, but it was easier to focus without their sight. They naturally shifted when they felt they were in danger or scared but a forced shift needed concentration. It didn't require a lot, a mere moment of focus before Christine opened her eyes and saw Meg gasp and jump backwards in Erik's grip.

"What is it?" he inquired, his voice filled with concern as he held Meg's arms in his hands, trying to soothe his niece.

"They are definitely not lying!" Meg gasped as she gapped at their new appearances.

Christine blinked her currently glowing red eyes and raised her hand towards Meg in a calming motion, carefully trying to hide as much of her long, sharpened nails as possible.

"It's alright. We are still the same." She comforted. It was awkward talking with her fangs fully out, giving her a sort of lisp sound in her words. She saw Raoul sheepishly hide his own hand behind his back, using the other one to poke at his pointed ears for a moment.

"What do you see?" Erik asked his niece curiosity dripping from his tone.

Meg took a shaky breath in and then answered him. Christine and Raoul waited patiently while she described their new features. How their eyes were crimson and their ears pointed. How they had sharper features and even sharper nails.

"And fangs. Yep, they totally have fangs." Meg finished breathless. "Are you sure you won't hurt us?"

"You're safe." Raoul answered, appearing a little offended. "How many times do we have to tell you? Erik is our mate, making us physically incapable of hurting him and you are important to him, making you safe as well."

"So you can technically hurt her? You are capable of doing it?" Erik questioned with a frown.

"Well, yes but we wouldn't!" Raoul answered.

"We are too old to make such mistakes easily, give us some credit." Christine added. "We learned to deal with how we can eat, we are not monsters."

"No one said you were, but pardon me questioning whether my niece is safe around you." Erik replied dryly.

His tone made Christine grin. He was acting like his usual self, showing neither fear nor disgust towards them. It was a good sign.

"We will not harm her or anyone you care about. You have our word on that." Christine promised.

Erik nodded and Meg step forward with a frown.

"So…you do drink blood right? You don't want to drink from us?" she questioned.

"Yes we drink blood." Raoul answered with an eye roll. "But it's not like we need a lot, we only need to feed about once a week and we did that yesterday. You're fine."

Since she wasn't in any danger, Meg took another step forward and looked at them closely. "But you want to bite Erik, I can tell."

If Christine could blush, she would have.

"He's our mate, his scent is more appealing than any other." Christine admitted softly, part of her hoping that Erik didn't hear it.

Meg suddenly smirked. "What's it like?"

"Okay, that's enough out of you." Erik commanded with a hint of exasperation within the fondness. He took a step forward and gestured towards Meg. He held out his hand in the air expectantly to which Meg pouted but went back to him. She placed her hand in his and he grabbed onto it. "I'll be seeing you later, my pearl, you need to start heading home before Antoinette calls worrying about you."

His tone left no room for argument and Meg obviously recognized that. Her pout deepened but she gave her uncle a quick peck on the cheek before heading out. As she passed Christine and Raoul, Christine saw the small wink she gave the two of them. It surprised her because this whole thing had gone a lot easier than she had thought.

"Ignore Meg and her questions, she can become nosy sometimes." Erik stated.

Christine turned back towards him with a raised eyebrow. "Its fine, she is only curious. Your acceptance of everything, however, is a little off putting."

Erik shrugged. "If Meg tells me that she believes what you are, I will not argue. As towards accepting, would you rather have me afraid? I can act afraid if you wish."

"No no!" Raoul hurried to say. "Can you blame us for being surprised?"

Erik paused, cocking his head to the side. "I suppose not, but to me, the two of you have never been a threat to me, why would that suddenly change because I know more? You were always vampires."

Christine smiled and couldn't help but close the gap between them and throw her arms around him. She didn't realize that she had used her speed until Erik had startled badly by her touch but thankfully didn't move away.

"That is something that I will need to get used to." Erik remarked.

"Sorry." Christine apologized sheepishly, taking a step back from him.

"No wait." Erik grabbed her wrist before she had completely let him go. "You are still shifted correct? May I see?"

Christine stopped and looked up at him. At this distance, she could see the vein on Erik's neck and his scent was tempting her like it always did but more intensely since they were close. However, what she wanted at that moment more than anything was to kiss him in joy. This could've have gone wrong in many different ways, but instead, Erik was asking if he could see.

"Sure." Christine agreed, pushing her thoughts down. Their relationship wasn't like that yet. She was going to be happy that Erik didn't openly reject them and wanted them to be in his presence at all.

Christine took hold of both of Erik's hands and faced them upwards. She placed her own hands on top of his, letting him feel the nails that acted more like claws at the moment. When he was satisfied with that, she brought his hands to her face to explore. She remained perfectly motionless as he traced her sharper features and pointy ears. For a second, Erik hesitated around her mouth, but she opened it enough that her fangs poked out.

Usually she hated her vampire form, it made her ugly in her opinion and she didn't see the need to use it. Her shifting today had been the first time in over 40 years in itself. However, the way Erik slowly traced her features, Christine enjoyed it. When she was in this form, her senses grew more enhanced making each touch that usually brought warmth to her skin feel like it was fire. It was because Erik was touching her and when his hands disappeared, Christine blinked her eyes open, not having realized she had closed them.

The first thing she saw was Erik grinning softly.

"Beautiful." He announced and Christine felt her undead heart soar.

There we go! You didn't really think that Erik would turn away from them did you? I hope you enjoyed reading this next chapter, if you did be sure to leave a review!

Note: This MIGHT be the last time I can update for a while. As of now, I'll be gone for the next few weeks, but that can change into…well months. I know that sounds terrible but just wanted to give you a heads up that if it does turn into months, hopefully not, I won't be able to update in next year. Literally. I apologize in advance but hopefully, for now, it'll only be a few weeks.

See ya next time.